Celtic travel to the Shakhtyor Stadium in two weeks' time before hosting Shakhter Karagandy, who won the Kazakh league title in 2012, at Celtic Park.

Lennon hopes at least one member of the Scottish champions' scouting network can make the 8,000-mile round trip in advance but admits his team faces a trip into the unknown.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's friendly meeting with Liverpool in Dublin, Lennon told a press conference: "The draw is a bit of an unknown one for us. Logistically it will be a nightmare in terms of travelling.

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"It could have been kinder but it could have been tougher as well. It will be impossible for me to go and watch them, but hopefully we'll have some representation over there."

The sale of defender Kelvin Wilson to Nottingham Forest is expected to be the last departure from Celtic Park this summer as Lennon looks to recruit quickly before the Champions League registration window closes in three days.

"We are burnt in terms of numbers and hope to add to the squad over the next couple of days, the deadline is Monday," he added. "I'm not envisaging anyone else leaving; it's about strengthening the squad now. We're working very hard and it's on-going."

The Hoops will hope last season European campaign, when they beat Barcelona in the group stages on a memorable evening in Glasgow before losing to Juventus, will be a source of inspiration.

It proved a lucrative run for Lennon's men, who will now face a team with no European pedigree, one aiming to reach a main-draw stage for the first time against a club who won the old European Cup in 1967.

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